Invalid handler



Get. 23, 1934.

T. H. HASKETT INVALID HANDLER Filed Jan. 20, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet l Oct.23, 1934. T. H. HASKETT INVALID HANDLER Filed Jan. 20, 1953 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 23, 1'934. s rr 1,977,944

INVALID HANDLER Filed Jan. 20, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 T. H. HASKETTINVALID HANDLER Oct. 23, 1934.

Filed Jan. 20, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Z? Hake Oct. 23, 1934. H, HA KETT1,917,944

INVALID HANDLER Filed Jan. 20, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 23,1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,977,944 INVALID HANDLER Thomas H.Haskett, Anaheim, Calif.

Application January 20, 1933, Serial No. 652,727

3 Claims. .(Cl. 5-84) This invention relates to invalid handlers adaptedfor hospital and surgical use and has for an object to provide a deviceof this type which will promote the comfort of invalids and conveniencein handling patients.

A further object is to provide an invalid handler having an adjustableframe in which the side bars of the frame and the posts at each endtelescope so that the device may be easily adjusted to fit any length orheight bed.

A further object is to provide wheeled posts which are locked stationaryto the bed but may be readily disconnected from the bed to permit of thedevice being transported, the locking means comprising longitudinal barswhich are so shaped as to embrace the legs of the bed and whichtelescope into the bottom end rails of the frame so that the frame maybe made suiliciently narrow .to pass through doorways.

A further object is to provide novel raising and lowering devices forthe stretcher, consisting of cables, drums and geared cranks at the footof the frame adapted to be manipulated easily without exertion for thepurpose of adjusting the sections of the stretcher to assume variousdesired angular relationships to each other, the raising and loweringmeans being provided with braking means which allow the operator to letgo of the cranks at any time, while the stretcher will remain in theadjusted position regardless of how much weight is on the stretcher.

A further object is to provide a stretcher-sup-v porting frame whichwill have yokes at the bottom of the posts for straddling the head andfoot sections of the bed to securely position the frame on a bed whereit is not desired to move the device for transporting the patient.

A further object is to provide a novel stretcher which will include aframe and a canvas cover which is removably secured to the frame byzippers so that quick and easy removal and attachment of the cover maybe effected when necessary.

A further object is to provide a stretcher having the frame jointed topreferably provide four hinged sections, such as a foot section, a hipsection, a shoulder section, and a head section, all of which may bedisposed by the raising and lowering cables of the superposed frame workat desired angular positions with respect to each other.

A further object is to provide a stretcher in which the sections areconnected by novel hinges so constructed as to permit the sections beingadjusted and locked at various angular positions to each other in aquick and expeditious manner,

A further object is to provide a stretcher having an adjustable footrest which forms a spreader at the bottom of the stretcher.

A further object is to provide a stretcher having a mattress to promotethe comfort of the patient, the mattress and canvas cover of thestretcher being provided with registering openings to permit of the bedpan being used, the openings normally being closed by a canvas flapcarried by the stretcher cover and having a plug of the same material asthe mattress adapted to enter the opening in the mattress and form acontinuous surface.

A further object is to provide novel Winding drums and gear mechanismsfor operating the drums, together with pulleys and cables so arrangedthat manipulation of the operating cranks will adjust the sections ofthe stretcher relatively to each other to assume various combinations ofshapes hitherto. unobtainable by the use of ordinary invalid handlers.

A further object is to provide an invalid handler which will be light,strong and durable, will be portable and hygienic, and ,will present aneat and attractive appearance.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists incertain novel details of construction and combinations of partshereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood thatvarious modifications may be resorted to within the scope of theappended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificingany ofthe advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure l is a perspective view of the invalid handler applied to ahospital bed showing the stretcher in raised horizontal position,

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the stretcher and mattress, the latterbeing shown raised from the stretcher for the purpose of clearness,

Figure 3 is a cross section through the center oi the stretcher andmattress assembled,

Figure 4 is a detail longitudinal section of the hinges showing twoadjusted angular positions of the hinge,

Figure 5 is a detail section showing the hinge locked in rigidhorizontal position,

Figure 6 is a cross section taken on the line 66 of Figure 5 showing thepivot of the hinge,

Figure '7 is an enlarged cross section with parts in elevation showingthe cable, drums and gear mechanisms,

Figure 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 88 oi F gure '1.

Figure 9 is a detail cross section taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8,

Figure 10 is a detail vertical section taken on the line 10-40 of Figure7,

Figure 11 is a cross section taken on the line 11-'-11 of Figure 8,

Figure 12 is a cross section taken on the line 1212 of Figure 8,

Figure 13 is a detail cross section taken on the line 13-13 of Figure 1,

Figure 14 is a perspective view of a modified form of the inventionshowing the posts of the frame equipped with downwardly opening yokesfor attaching the frame to the head and foot sections of the bed, and

Figures 15 to 19, inclusive, are diagrammatic views showing a few of themany adjustments of the stretcher which can be made.

Referring now to the drawings in which like characters of referencedesignate similar parts in the various views, and more particularly toFigure 1, 10 represents a bed of the hospital type, although the invalidhandler is adapted to be used in connection with all types of beds.

The invalid handler includes a frame comprising four corner legs 11,preferably formed of tubing. Each leg is formed of an upper and a lowersection telescopically assembled and adapted to be held in variousadjusted positions by a set screw 12. The legs at one end of the frameare connected preferably at three places by means of a lower cross bar13, an intermediate cross bar 14, and a top'cross bar 15. The legs atthe opposite end of the frame are connected by a lower cross bar 16 andan upperv cross bar 17. All of these bars are preferably formed oftubing. A pair of tubular side bars 18 are secured in any preferredmanner to the top bars 15 and 1'7 and these side bars are adapted toextend above and longitudinally of the bed and form supports from whichthe stretcher, hereinafter described, is'suspended. The longitudinalbars 18 are each formed of sections which are telescopically united andheld in various adjusted positions by set screws 19 so that the bars maybe adjusted to suit any length bed.

The corner posts 11 are provided with wheels 20 which may be in the formof casters mounted on spindles 21, as shown in Figure 13, which arerotatably secured in bearings 22 and confined against accidental escapeby set screws 23. These casters permit of the frame being placed over orremoved from the bed as well as being transported from room to room whendesired.

When mounted upon a bed the frame is locked stationary to the bed bymeans of bars 24 which extend longitudinally of the bed and areterminally provided with bowed portions 25 which embrace the legs of thebd. Preferably a pad 26 of suitable material is interposed between eachbowed portion and corresponding leg of the bed, shown in Figure 13. Eachbar 24 is provided beyond the bows with extensions 27 and 28 whichextend at right angles to the bars and enter the tubular bottom rails 13and 16 of the frame, respectively. As clearly shown in Figure 13, the

extensions 27 and 28 are adapted to be secured in various adjustedpositions in said bottom bars by means of set screws 29. Loosening ofthe set screws permits the bars 24 to be moved inwardly or outwardly tofit various widths of beds and also permit the frame to be moved througha narrow door of substantially the width of the frame as defined by thespace between each pair of corner posts 11.

To permit. removal of either of the bars 24 so that the frame may beremoved laterally from. the bed from either side, each bar is terminallyequipped with an eye 30, as also shownin Figure 13, which receives thecorresponding extension and is removably secured to the latter by meansof a set screw 31.@ By simply urfastening the set screws 31 of the baron one side of the bed the frame may be pushed oil! the bed in thedirection of the opposite side of the bed whereupon the bar may bereplaced to maintain rigidity of the frame during transportation of thepatient.

B y referring more particularly to Figures 8 to 12, inclusive, it willbe seen that each longitudinal bar 18 of the frame is equipped withpreferably three pulleys 32, 33 and 34, the pulley 32 being a doublepulley, as shown best in Figure 12, while the pulleys 33 and 34 aresingle pulleys. A wire cable 35 is trained over the pulley 34 and asimilar wire cable 36 is trained over the pulley 33, both of thesecables being thence trained over the double pulley 32 and carrieddownwardly to respective superposed spools or winding drums 37 and 38,best shown in Figure 10. The free ends of the cable are equipped withsnap hooks 39 and 40, of any preferred type, which are adapted to behooked through suitable eyes carried by the stretcher frame, as willpresently be described. The pulleys, cables, winding drums and snaphooks, just described, are arranged close to one of the posts 11 at thefoot of the frame or bed and as the parts just described are duplicatedadjacent to the opposite foot post 11 for the purpose of brevity theduplicate parts have been given the same numerals, as will be seen byreferring to Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 10, the superposed winding drums are mounted in asuitable casing 41 and the cables are conducted through guide eyes fromthe drums out of the casing and thus kept separate and from tangling.The casing is provided on one side with a split clamp composed ofcomplementary sections 42 secured together by bolts 43, as shown inFigure 9, which permit of the casing 41 being firmly secured to thecorresponding corner post 11 of the frame.

The two top drums 37 are fixed to a common I ing up or 'unreeling oftheir respective cables, ac- V cording to the direction of rotation ofthe crank. Likewise, the top shaft 44 is equipped with a worm gear 50which meshes with a worm pinion 51, as shown in Figure 7, the wormpinion being operated by a shaft and crank 52, as best shown inFigure 1. Upon rotation of the crank 52 both top drums 37 will besimultaneously actuated to reel or unreel their respective cables,according to the direction of rotation of the crank 52.

Gear cases 53 of identical construction, and shown best in Figure 9,house the worm gear and pinion gear of each transverse shaft, Justmentioned, these cases being suitably secured in any preferred manner tothe corresponding winding drum casing 41. The worm gear andcorresponding worm pinion of each train is preferably in the ratio ofsix to one so that the winding drums may be operated with littlemuscular effort. To prevent accidental retrograde movement of the drumswhen the corresponding cranks are released and to assure that thehereinafter described stretcher will remain in the desired adjustedpositions,each worm pinion shaft is equipped with a friction brake, asbest shown in Figure 8, comprising a helical spring 54 which isconfinedon a projecting end of the crank shaft by means of nuts 55 and56 and bears against and forces a washer 57 into frictional engagementwith the rear wall of the gear case 53. The spring is preferablysurrounded by a housing 58. Tightening of the adjusting nuts 55 and 56causes the spring to be compressed and force the washer 57 into tightfrictional engagement with the outer face of the gear case and therebypositively prevents accidental retrograde movement of the correspondingcrank handle when the operator lets go of it.

As best shown in Figures 7 and 8, the winding drum casings 41, inaddition to being clamped to the posts 11 of the frame, are also clampedto the intermediate transverse bar 14 of the frame by means of splitring clamps comprising complementary members 59 bolted together, asshown at 60. Consequently the winding drum units are so rigidly securedto the frame as to reduce vibration to a minimum so that long life anddurability of the parts is assured.

In Figure 14, there is shown a modified form of frame in which thecorner posts 61 are relatively short in length and are each equipped atthe bottom with a yoke 62 which is adapted to fit-down upon the head orfoot section of the bed, as the case may be. In this type of frame noprovision is made for maneuverbility and this modification is thereforeparticularly adapted to home use where the patient will not be movedfrom room to room as is the case in hospitals.

The component parts of this modified form of the frame, as well as theraising and lowering apparatus carried thereby, is otherwise identicalwith the first-described form of the invention, and for the purpose ofbrevity and cleamess corresponding parts in both forms have been givensimilar numerals.

Referring now to Figure 2, it will be seen that a stretcher is providedcomprising parallel tubular side rails 63 connected at the head ends bya tubular cross rail 64 and connected at the foot ends by a combinedstretcher spreader and adjustable foot rest. The foot rest preferablycomprises spaced transverse tubular bars 65 connected at the ends byposts 66 which extend below the lowermost bar and terminate ineyes 67which slidably receive the side rails 63 and are adjustably secured tothe latter by set screws 68. The foot rail and support may thus beadjusted longitudinally of the side rails to accommodate patients ofdifferent heights.

The side rails are connected by a canvas cover 69 which, as best shownin Figure 3, is looped around the side rail 63 and stitched to the bodyof the cover, as shown at 70. The intermediate portion of the cover isremovably attached to the looped ends by means of parallel rows ofzippers 71, best shown in Figure 2. Spaced straps 72 are passedtransversely across the intermediate portion of the cover and arestitched to said portion, as shown at 73 in Figure 3. The ends of thestraps are passed under the side rails 63 and thence upwardly, as shown,and are terminally equipped with rings 74 adapted to be received in theabove described snap hooks 39 and 40 of the raising and loweringapparatus.

The side rails 83 are jointed at three places, as shown in Figure 2,' bymeans of novel hinges, shown in detail in Figures 4 to 6, inclusive,which hinges produce adjustable stretcher sections which may be inclinedat various angular positions with respect to each other, as shown inFigures 15 to 19, inclusive, and which will hereinafter he referred toas the foot section 75, hip section 76, shoulder section 77 and headsection 78. Each hinge preferably comprises a socket member 79 carriedby a section 80 of the side rail, the socket member being open at oneend and having the edge at the open end rounded to provide a taperedstop surface 81. The mating secti 82 of the side rail is provided with ahead 83 w ich enters the socket member 79 and is secured therein bymeans of a pivot pin 84 passed transversely through the head and thesocket member. The head is substantially elliptical in outline, as shownbest in Figure 6, so that it may freely clear the inner wall of thesocket member when the section 82 of the side rail is rocked upon thehorizontal pivot 84.

The section 82 is provided adjacent the head with screw threads 85 whichreceive a lock nut 86; The lock nut is knurled on its surface, as shownat 87, and is tapered beyond the knurled surface to provide asubstantially frusto conical stop surface 88. The purpose of the frustoconical stop surface is to permit of the lock nut being advanced towardsthe socket member 79 until said surface contacts with and binds againstthe stop surface 81 of the socket member and centers as well as locksthe section 82 in the socket member in alignment with the section 80. Inthis position of the parts the stretcher will be substantiallyhorizontal and rigid so that it can be raised vertically to lift thepatient from the bed, as

shown in Figure 1, or tilted, as shown in Figure 14.

The lock nut 86 may be backed away from the socket member 79 until thestop surface 81 of the socket member will 'contact with only thesmallest peripheral portion of the stop surface 88 of the nut, in whichposition of the parts the section 82 of the side rail may be swungupwardly, as shown by full lines in Figure 4, or downwardly, as shown bydotted lines in said figure, to extend at an angle to the section 80. Bybacking the lock nut 86 to its outer limit of movement on its threads 85the nut will clear the socket member 79 and permit of a still greaterangular inclination upwardly or downwardly of the section 82 withrespect to the section 80.

Preferably to complete the stretcher, I provide a mattress 89 whichserves as a pad for the canvas cover 69 of the stretcher and promotescomfort of the patient. The mattress is provided with an aperture 90which registers with a similar aperture 91 in the stretcher cover 69 topermit use of the bed pan. A rubber sheet 92 is disposed transversely ofthe mattress around the opening 90 therein.

A canvas flap 93 is stitched at one edge, as shown at 94 in Figure 2, tothe underneath face of the canvas cover 69 and carries a plug 95 ofmaterial removed from the mattress by the formation of the opening 90.Thus when the flap is rocked to closed position the plug will projectthrough the opening 91 in the canvas stretcher cover and enter theopening 90 of the mattress to form a continuous surface; as will beunderstood. The flap 93 is provided with straps 96 which are secured bysnap fasteners 97 to the underneath face of the stretcher cover 69.

vIn operation, the crank 52 on the right side of the frame rotates theupper shaft 44 to lengthen or shorten the cables 36 simultaneously sothat the hip section '76 of the stretcher will be disposed at an anglewith respect to the shoulder section 77, as best shown in Figures 16, 17and 19. Rotation of the crank 49 on the left side of the frame actuatesthe lower shaft to lengthen or shorten the cables 35 and dispose theshoulder section 77 at various angular positions with respect to the hipsection 76, as shown in Figures 15, 16, 17 and 19. Rotation of bothcranks elevates or lowers the corresponding sections in unison so thatnot only will the sections be caused to assume desired angular positionswith respect to each other, but also will be elevated to any desiredextent above the bed, as shown in Figures 1, and

' 15 and 17. It is simply necessary to detach the snap hooks 39 and 40from the eyes 74 on one side of the stretcher and then rotate bothcranks in unison to tilt the stretcher upwardly on the opposite side, asbest shown in Figure 14. This position of the stretcher allows thepatient to be turned slightly on his side to rest and relieve the backand prevent bed sores.

It will thus be observed that by manipulation of the crank handlesindependently of each other or simultaneously with each other, thecables may be wound or unwound from their winding drums accordingly toproduce ,predetermined angular positions of thestretcher, with respectto each other, on the bed, as well as with respect to the bed itself.

As shown in Figure 1, the stretcher has been made rigid by tighteningthe lock nuts 86 of the hinges and the patient is raised without theslightest discomfort in order that the bed linens may be changed or forother desired purposes.

As shown in Figure 18, the hinges have been made rigid and the stretcherhas been elevated at one end at an angle, thus permitting use of the bedpan.

In Figure 15 the stretcher is shown as being made substantially rigidand raised at the foot with the head remaining on the bed, whichposition iii-especially suited for cases of hemorrhages, shocks,injuries and fractures.

In Figure 16 two pairs of the hinges have been unlocked and the foot andhip sections are elevated to place the patient in a position required inmany cases of wounds, fractures and inflammation. This figure also showsthe position of the stretcher to permit the patients legs to be raisedand dispose the patients legs at an angle from the hips to the knees andthen horizontally from the knees to the feet.

In Figure 19 the stretcher is shown as having two pairs of the hingesunlocked to adjust the patient so that the head and feet will be downwhile the abdomen will be raised, which position is required in certaincases of post-operations. The semi-reclining position of the stretcheris shown in Figure 17 which permits of complete relaxation of thepatient sitting up, while convalescing, and for using the bed pan in anatural comfortable position.

Only a few of the many adjustments of the stretcher obtainable, havebeen illustrated and these by way of example only, it being obvious thatmany other positions may be secured by proper manipulation of the cranksto dispose the patient in suitable positions, exactly as the doctordesires, instead of approximately, as has been hitherto necessary withthe ordinary available devices of this character.

By again referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that eyes 99 are securedto the side rafls 63 at the corners and that hooks 98 are secured to thecorner posts 11 at the head of the frame. The hooks 98 may be engagedwith the eyes 99 when the stretcher is elevated and after removal of theframe from the bed, so that the stretcher will not sway and thus thepatient may be comfortably transported on the stationary suspendedstretcher as the frame is rolled from place to place. It will beparticularly noted that the two rows of zippers 71 extend the fulllength of the canvas cover of the stretcher so that by pulling thezippers the canvas cover can be quickly freed from the stretcher frame.Furthermore, it will be pointed out that the rings 74 and the ends ofthe straps 72 are used on the outside of the stretcher frame to connectwith the wire cables except when the canvas cover alone is to be used,such as for lifting the patient from the bed into a chair. To accomplishthis, the zippers are pulled to free the canvas cover from the stretcherframe and then the ends of the straps are passed inside of the stretcherframe and attached to. the wire cables. The patient may then be taken onthe canvas alone to the chair while the stretcher frame is left lying onthe bed until the patient is brought back, whereupon the canvas covermay be laid in the frame and the zippers again connected.

From the above description it is thought that the construction andoperation of my invention will be thoroughly understood without furtherexplanation.

.What is claimed is:

1. An invalid handler comprising a frame having telescoping corner legsand telescoping longitudinal bars connecting the legs whereby the framemay be adjusted to various sizes of beds, wheels carried by the frame,side rails having curved portions adapted to embrace the legs of the bedand terminating beyond the curved portions in extensions, and meansadjustably and removably securing said extensions to the frame forpermitting the side rails being adjusted to fit.

various sizes of beds and to be removed therefrom for permitting theframe being maneuvered away from the bed.

2. An invalid handler comprising a frame, including corner posts, crossbars connecting the posts, upper longitudinal side bars connecting theposts, lower longitudinal side bars connecting the posts andtelescopically united with the lowermost connecting cross bars of posts,wheels for the frame below the lowermost cross bars for supporting theframe over a bed, spaced pairs of winding drums carried by the frame andsecured to one pair of the corner posts, pulleys carried by the upperlongitudinal side bars, and cables carried by the drums and trained overthe pulleys.

3. An invalid handler comprising a frame, including extensible cornerposts, longitudinal upper side rails, lower side rails adiustablysecured to the posts to be moved toward and away from the posts andhaving curved portions adapted to embrace the'legs of a bed, ,wheeiscarried by the corner posts, pairs of superposed winding drums carriedby the comer posts at one end of the frame, a common shaft upon whichthe upper drums of both pairs of drums are fixed, a common shaft uponwhich the lower drums of both pairs of drums are fixed, means forrotating both shafts, pulleys carried by the upper side rails of theframe,. and cables carried by the drums and trained over the pulleys.

THOMAS H. HASKETT. [r..s.]

